Event Navigation

Oedipus Part One: Assembly

Written by Sophocles, Adapted by Joseph Shragge from a literal translation by Lynn Kozak

Directed by Andreas Apergis
Musical direction by David Oppenheim
Original composition by Brian Lipson

“Don’t raise the city only to let it drop; restore the state so it never falls.” – Priest

Scapegoat Carnivale Theatre’s Co-Artistic Directors Alison Darcy and Joseph Shragge are honoured to be invited to Centaur Theatre for a fourth Brave New Looks slot with Oedipus Part One: Assembly following their award-winning productions of Medea and The Bacchae. Both spoken and sung, the theatre will be filled with talented Montreal voices coming together for the first creative development stage of this important play, from October 20-22, 2017.

Celebrating the company’s 10th anniversary, Oedipus Part One: Assembly, the third in their Greek tragedy trilogy, unites local gifted theatre artists who have performed with the company over the years. Award-winning cast members, many of whom are no stranger to Centaur audiences, include: Chip Chuipka, Alison Darcy, Gitanjali Jain, Marcel Jeannin, Julie Tamiko Manning, Leni Parker, Mike Payette, France Rolland, Theoharris ‘Harry’ Standjofski, Melissa Trottier, Janet Warrington and Brett Watson. Sharing the stage is Choeur Maha, Zakynthines Phones Choir and The Montreal Artists Choir.

“This city is mine, too.” – Oedipus

Oedipus Part One: Assembly is a powerful depiction of a city-wide crisis centering on King Oedipus’ quest to rid Thebes of a devastating plague brought on by a mysterious curse. His pursuit of its cause has far reaching consequences for the city and for himself. The play opens with a group of citizens supplicating at Oedipus’ palace gates, but we quickly learn that these protests are occurring throughout the metropolis. It is against this backdrop of civic collectivity that the truth of Oedipus’ past violence and present taboo-filled turmoil comes to light.

This performance, the first of a long-term creative development, will re-centre the play’s civic notion of public assembly, and ask what it means to be part of a large-scale appeal to power. The work will also give nuance to the general public’s long-held perception of Oedipus Tyrannus, moving away from 20th century Freudian readings of the play and suggesting it instead as a lens for examining 21st century participatory culture.

“When bodies assemble on the street, or in the square, or in other forms of public space they are exercising a plural and performative right to appear.” –Judith Butler

About

MTH is the largest website of its kind, serving as a leading online source of information on the Montreal English language theatre scene. We provide focused coverage of the local arts community by publishing news articles, interviews, reviews, jobs, calendars, and original content crafted by a team of qualified contributors.